In a forgotten corner of the United States during World War I, a young woman named Pearl longs to escape the monotonous life she leads on a farm alongside her strict mother and a father struggling with his own health. Brimming with dreams, Pearl feels trapped in a world that does not understand her ambition, while her only refuge is the fantasy of stardom in the movies. With each passing day, her desire to become a great actress intensifies, but it also begins to reveal a disturbing darkness.
As the war unfolds and her aspirations clash with the harsh reality of her surroundings, Pearl begins to descend into an emotional abyss. Her frustration transforms into violence, as the pressure from society and her own family drive her toward dark and twisted behaviors. The anxiety of becoming a star turns into a destructive obsession, leading Pearl to make choices that will change her life forever.
The film explores themes of ambition, loneliness, and the internal struggle between dreams and reality, all framed within a visual aesthetic that evokes classic cinema. Caught between her desires and her demons, Pearl offers a chilling glimpse into how the pursuit of success can unleash the worst facets of oneself, a narrative of psychological horror that feels both timeless and surprisingly contemporary.